Dinner was finally over.
Plates cleared. 🍽️
Spoons resting. 🥄
Peace pretending to exist. 🕊️
Laddu moved.
A lot.
Directly—
On Mochi's lap.
Like the furniture came with him already attached. 🪑➡️🫂
Mochi exhaled slowly.
"…Food is finished."
"Yes," Laddu agreed happily.
He tightened his arms around her waist and rested his cheek against her stomach, completely content. 😌
"My tall flower," he said softly. 🌸⬆️
Maya gagged.
"Oh no, poetry unlocked." 🤢📜
"My hot flower," Laddu continued without shame. 🔥🌸
Candy covered her ears. 🙉
"Brother stop before aunties hear."
"My lover flower," he finished proudly. 💖🌸
Dead silence.
Then laughter. 😂
Mother shook her head, smiling despite herself.
"Why flower?"
Laddu looked up, deeply offended by the question. 😤
"Because flowers are soft," he explained seriously.
"And strong."
"And tall ones survive storms." 🌧️🌸
Mochi's face went pink. 🌸😳
"You're embarrassing."
"But accurate," Laddu replied.
He hugged her tighter.
Maya leaned toward Candy.
"He's marking territory."
Candy nodded seriously.
"Like cat." 🐈✔️
Mochi tried to push him gently.
"Get down," she said.
"No," Laddu replied calmly.
"I am emotional now."
He nuzzled closer.
"You're warm," he added.
"And safe." 🤍
Mother pretended not to notice.
"Tea, anyone?" she asked loudly. ☕📢
Mochi sighed, then gave up.
She rested one hand lightly on his back.
"Five minutes," she said.
Laddu smiled into her. 😊
"Five minutes of flower time."
The café filled with quiet laughter again. 😄
No drama.
No chaos.
Just one man hugging his tall flower like he'd finally found where he belonged. 🌸🫂
🌿 Positions & Boundaries
Laddu shifted slightly.
Not to move away.
Just closer.
He rubbed his face gently against Mochi's chest, like a tired cat finding the warmest spot in the house. 🐈⬛🔥
No rush.
No force.
Just comfort.
Mochi stiffened for half a second.
Then relaxed.
"…Laddu," she murmured.
He lifted his head and kissed her softly. 💋
Not dramatic.
Not demanding.
Just a quiet kiss that said I'm here.
Then he kissed her hair, slow and careful, breathing her in like the scent itself was medicine. 🌸😌
The room noticed.
Maya pretended very hard not to see. 🙈
Candy stared openly. 👀
Mother suddenly became extremely interested in the teapot. 🫖
Laddu pulled back just enough to look at Mochi's face.
"Do you want to change position?" he asked.
Not playful.
Not teasing.
A real question. ⚖️
Mochi looked at him.
Really looked.
Then she shook her head slightly.
"…No," she said. "This is fine."
Laddu smiled instantly.
"Okay," he replied.
No pushing.
No negotiating.
He rested his head against her shoulder instead, arms lighter now. 🤍
"Tell me when," he added softly.
Mochi's hand moved to his back on its own.
"Thank you," she said quietly.
"For asking."
Laddu closed his eyes.
"Always," he said.
"Romance with permission lasts longer." 🌱
Maya whispered to Candy,
"He just leveled up."
Candy nodded seriously.
"Respect skill unlocked." 🎮✔️
The café stayed warm.
Not because of heaters.
But because two people chose comfort over impulse. 🔥🤍
📢 Evidence Collection (Very Loud)
Cousin leaned back, arms crossed.
"I think you lie," she said calmly.
"No one has fifty-one exes."
Maya nodded.
"Statistically suspicious." 📊
Laddu looked offended.
He turned to Mochi.
"Do you believe me?"
Mochi hesitated, choosing her words carefully.
"…You sound imaginative."
That hurt him more than disbelief. 💔
Laddu stood up suddenly.
"Okay," he said. "Proof."
He took out his phone, turned on loudspeaker, and slipped it into his shirt pocket. 📱🔊
"I'm going outside," he announced.
"One hour."
Mochi blinked.
"…Why outside?"
"Network confidence improves in open air," Laddu replied.
Mother sighed.
"Lord, give me patience." 🙏
📞 Call 1 — The Confident One
Girl 1:
"Hello?"
Laddu:
"Hi. Quick question. Do you think confidence is attractive?"
Girl 1:
"…Who is this?"
Laddu:
"Someone testing a theory."
Pause.
Girl 1 (laughing):
"Well… yes."
Laddu:
"Good. You sound confident too."
Silence.
Girl 1:
"…That was smooth."
"Send me your number."
📴 Call ends.
Candy counted.
"One." ☝️
📞 Call 2 — The Sarcastic One
Girl 2:
"Hello?"
Laddu:
"Is sarcasm a red flag?"
Girl 2:
"Depends. Are you funny or annoying?"
Laddu:
"Funny when trusted. Annoying by profession."
Girl 2:
"…I hate that I like that."
Number saved. ✔️
Cousin stared.
"…What."
📞 Call 3 — The Soft Voice
Girl 3:
"Yes?"
Laddu:
"Your voice sounds kind."
Girl 3:
"That's random."
Laddu:
"I specialize in random honesty."
Pause.
Girl 3:
"That's… sweet."
Number exchanged. ✔️
Mochi shifted slightly. 😐
📞 Call 4 — The Busy One
Girl 4:
"I'm in a meeting."
Laddu:
"You sound like someone who handles chaos well."
Girl 4:
"…Flattery won't—"
Laddu:
"I'll call later."
📴
Five minutes later, notification beeped.
Text: Call after 9. 📩
Candy's jaw dropped. 😱
📞 Call 5 — The Direct One
Girl 5:
"What do you want?"
Laddu:
"Permission to say something nice."
Girl 5:
"…Granted."
Laddu:
"You don't waste time on nonsense. Rare."
Girl 5:
"…Are you single?"
Laddu:
"Complicated."
Girl 5:
"Same. Send number."
📞 Call 6 — The Laugher
Girl 6:
"Hello?"
Laddu:
"You laugh easily."
Girl 6:
"…How do you know?"
Laddu:
"Because you just did."
She burst out laughing. 😂
Number saved.
📞 Call 7 — The Skeptic
Girl 7:
"You sound fake."
Laddu:
"Fake people try harder."
Pause.
Girl 7:
"…That made sense."
"One coffee," she said.
Number sent. ✔️
📞 Call 8 — The Final One
Girl 8:
"Yes?"
Laddu:
"You handle silence well."
Girl 8:
"That's strange."
Laddu:
"Strange is memorable."
She laughed softly.
"Send your number."
📱 Inside the Café — One Hour Later
Laddu walked back in.
Phone on the table.
Eight new contacts. 📲
Silence.
Candy counted again.
"…Eight."
Maya stared at Mochi.
"He didn't even try."
Cousin leaned back.
"…I withdraw my statement."
Laddu turned to Mochi.
"Now," he asked gently,
"do you believe me?"
Mochi looked at the phone.
Then at him.
"…I believe," she said slowly.
She paused.
"But I don't like it."
Laddu smiled immediately. 😊
"Good. I stopped collecting after you."
Mother shook her head.
"Sit. Drink water."
Laddu obeyed. 🚰
Proof delivered.
Chaos confirmed.
And Mochi learned something important:
He wasn't lying.
He was just… ridiculous. 🤦♀️😂